The cocktail hour is the stretch of time that can quietly make or break an entire corporate evening. Before the program begins, before the room has fully opened up, there's a gap — and the smartest event planners know exactly how to fill it. Here's why close-up magic has become one of the most strategically sound entertainment choices for upscale corporate receptions, and what it actually does for the room when it's deployed correctly.

Last season, I attended The Academy of Magical Arts’ Awards Show, considered by some to be the equivalent of the Oscars for magic where long-time mentor and friend, Curtis Kam received a Special Fellowship Award for Significant Contributions to the Art of Magic.